Ipswich day of action reaps results

Over 100 vehicles were stopped, five people were arrested, and more than 100 Traffic Offence Reports were issued, during a multi-agency day of action in Ipswich.

The operation took place on Tuesday 22 October, with the aim of disrupting and frustrating the activities of criminals, including organised crime groups, who commit offences across county borders whilst using the road network.

Officers were also focused on all-round road safety and the fatal four offences of drink/drug driving, driving whilst using a mobile phone, speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt.

This was intelligence-led and involved vehicles identified as being potentially involved in criminality or committing offences being brought back to a check site in the car park of Sainsbury’s on Hadleigh Road, where police and partner agencies conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants.

Anyone suspected of committing any of these offences was also stopped, along with people driving vehicles which were unroadworthy or had a defect. All of these actions serve towards making the county’s roads safer and reduce the likelihood of someone being killed or seriously injured by an illegally/unsafely driven or defective vehicle.

The Joint Roads and Armed Policing Team were assisted by officers from the Road Casualty Reduction Team, Commercial Vehicle Unit, and the local Response Investigation Team, along with police staff colleagues from the Modern Day Slavery Team and the Safety Camera Team.

Partner agencies present included the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA); HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC); Home Office Immigration Enforcement; Environment Agency; Suffolk County Council Trading Standards, Ipswich Borough Council; and CDER Group Debt Recovery.

Five people were arrested as follows:

• One on suspicion of immigration offences (overstaying in the UK) and also being wanted on a warrant for failing to appear at court;
• Four on suspicion of immigration offences (three for overstaying in the UK & one for illegally working in the UK

101 vehicles were escorted back to the site, with only 11 leaving clear of any offences and five vehicles were seized.

102 Traffic Offence Reports were issued, including: 24 for not wearing a seat belt; 17 for tinted windows; 10 for using a mobile phone; seven for having overweight loads; six for illegal tyres; five for insecure loads; five for no insurance; four for illegal exhausts; three for being in a dangerous condition; and three for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. 

The Safety Camera Team deployed to roads in the surrounding area, detecting a total of 40 speeding offences, with the highest speed detected being 51mph in a 30mph zone. 

The DVSA issued seven immediate prohibitions - taking those vehicles off the road straight away – six delayed prohibitions and 27 advisory notices. The DVLA clamped eight vehicles for no tax & issued six warnings, collecting a total of £2,560 in fines.

Home Office Immigration conducted checks in respect of 76 people and made five arrests. HMRC challenged 37 vehicles checking for illegal fuel and no offences were found; and CDER Group collected outstanding fines, totalling £2,753.  

Acting Sergeant Dom Mason said: “This was a really positive day of action for all the agencies involved, with some significant offences detected.

“Immigration officers made five arrests and of note, one of those had been wanted for failing to appear at court since 2022 so was also arrested by police.

Sgt Julian Ditcham from Roads Policing added: “These days provide us with a great opportunity to detect vehicles with defects and remove unsafe vehicles from the roads, while also enforcing the ‘Fatal 4’ main causes of fatal or serious collisions.

“It is important for people to realise that road safety is everyone’s responsibility – an unroadworthy vehicle can be the cause of a serious collision, as can a driver using a mobile phone, or someone not wearing a seat belt.

“We will continue to hold these days of action to make our roads safer for everyone and to locate and detain anyone committing any criminal offences.”

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “Another very successful partnership day of action, with some great results. I'd like to say well done to everyone involved - working together to keep us safe on the county's roads.

"It really does amaze me how many drivers set off in defective vehicles or prepared to risk their lives, and the lives of others, but using their mobile phone or driving without a seat belt.

“I'm a huge fan of these targeted multi-agency operations. They are a clear, strong message to those involved in criminality and drivers who chose to flout the law by driving vehicles unfit for the road or being unfit to drive themselves, they stand a good chance of getting caught and if they are, appropriate action will be taken.”